Bungie is making one of its biggest gameplay experiments yet with Marathon Season 2, as the studio has confirmed that two new experimental modes are planned for the next season. One will lean more into PvE while still keeping a light touch of PvP, while the second will be a fully PvE-only mode focused on crews completing objectives together and making progress across multiple matches.
Bungie now seems ready to test whether the game can support more flexible ways to play without fully abandoning its core identity.
Marathon Is Getting Two Experimental Modes In Season 2
In Bungie’s latest “Launch, Learnings, and What’s Next” update, the studio said Season 2 will feature two experimental modes. The first mode is planned for the beginning of the season and will focus more on PvE, but will still include a light PvP presence.
In theory, this could give players more room to explore, loot, fight AI, and complete objectives without every match turning into a full-on sweat fest.
The second experimental mode is even more surprising. Bungie says it will be a PvE-only mode focused on crews working together to complete objectives and make progress across matches. That is a major change for Marathon, especially since the game has been built and marketed around the tension of shared-world extraction.
The PvE-Only Mode Could Be Huge For Casual Players
A PvE-only mode could end up being a big deal for players who enjoy Marathon’s world, gunplay, AI encounters, and objective structure, but do not always want to deal with aggressive PvP. Extraction shooters can be exciting, but they can also be exhausting, especially for newer players or solo-focused crews.
This kind of mode could give players a safer space to learn maps, test weapons, understand enemy behavior, and experience more of Marathon’s atmosphere without losing everything to a stronger squad. It may not replace the main extraction loop, but it could make the game feel less punishing for a wider audience.
PvP-Lite Sounds Like Bungie’s Middle Ground
The PvP-lite mode may be the more important experiment in the long run. A fully PvE mode gives players a different option, but a PvE-focused mode with some PvP could help Bungie find a better balance for Marathon’s main identity.
If the mode reduces constant player encounters while still allowing some level of danger, it could become a healthier middle ground between pure PvE and full PvPvE chaos. It could also help players who like the idea of risk, but do not want every run to feel like a high-stakes ranked match.
Bungie has already been using experimental queues to test ideas before committing to them. Previous limited-time experiments, including duos and free kit-style modes, were used to gather player feedback and understand how different systems affect the game.
Bungie Is Clearly Listening To Marathon Feedback
This announcement feels like a direct response to the ongoing conversation around Marathon’s structure. Some players love the brutal extraction format, but others have asked for more ways to engage with the game without being constantly pushed into PvP fights.
Bungie is not saying these modes will become permanent right away. The studio is calling them experiments, which means the response from players will likely decide whether they return, evolve, or become part of the core game. Bungie also said it plans to keep running experimental queues beyond these two Season 2 offerings, including possible tests around more purely PvP-focused modes.
That is a smart approach. Rather than completely redesigning Marathon overnight, Bungie is testing different flavors of the experience and watching what players actually respond to.
Marathon’s Future May Depend On These Experiments
The big question is whether these modes will feel like side activities or meaningful new ways to play. If the PvE-only mode has strong objectives, worthwhile progression, and enough challenge, it could become one of Marathon’s most requested permanent features. If the PvP-lite mode finds the right balance, it could even influence how Bungie tunes the broader experience going forward.
Marathon will still need to prove that these modes are more than temporary experiments, but Season 2 already sounds like a major step toward giving players more control over how they experience Bungie’s extraction shooter.
